What kind of camera would you recommend?

[writingmachine]

I've had a Samsung point and shoot camera for five years that unfortunately got toast this past trip a couple of weeks ago. I was riding POTC and it slipped out of my bag and onto the floor just as I went down the hill (while in the front row where you get the wettest) and I new it was a goner before I even picked it up. I tried airing it out, but it wasn't any use.

Now I'm out a camera and I'm pretty bummed. What kind of camera would you suggest as a replacement? I was thinking about a waterproof camera in case something unfortunate happens again. I'd like to keep my budget around $200 and under.

 

[jec6613]

If you're thinking waterproof and shockproof, a refurbished Nikon AW120 runs about that price and you can get an accidental damage warranty on it if you like (Adorama is selling it for $180 right now), and it even has Wi-Fi to connect to your cell phone. That's probably the best that'll fit in your budget at the moment.

However, before you get too far into things, what sort of pictures do you like to take? Besides WDW, where do you tend to use your camera?

 

[writingmachine]

If you're thinking waterproof and shockproof, a refurbished Nikon AW120 runs about that price and you can get an accidental damage warranty on it if you like (Adorama is selling it for $180 right now), and it even has Wi-Fi to connect to your cell phone. That's probably the best that'll fit in your budget at the moment.

However, before you get too far into things, what sort of pictures do you like to take? Besides WDW, where do you tend to use your camera?

Generally just on vacation or weekend trips (scenery, buildings, people, etc). I'd like to take my camera to the beach, but I haven't with this last camera because the previous one got a few grains of sand in it, rendering it useless. I try hard to be careful, but I've had bad luck with cameras so far.

 

[jec6613]

An AW120 sounds like a good fit then, it's a really good beach camera - and the lens goes from moderately wide to a moderate telephoto, so it has a useful zoom range. Plus, if you decide you want a more serious camera (longer zoom, bigger sensor, whatever) later, you won't regret owning it because it fills a specific niche than the higher end models generally don't.

If you had an unlimited budget, the camera I'd suggest would be the Nikon AW1, but at almost four times your budget, it probably isn't the best for you.

 

[writingmachine]

An AW120 sounds like a good fit then, it's a really good beach camera - and the lens goes from moderately wide to a moderate telephoto, so it has a useful zoom range. Plus, if you decide you want a more serious camera (longer zoom, bigger sensor, whatever) later, you won't regret owning it because it fills a specific niche than the higher end models generally don't.

If you had an unlimited budget, the camera I'd suggest would be the Nikon AW1, but at almost four times your budget, it probably isn't the best for you.

Thanks much for the suggestions! I'll be looking more into them as my next trip comes up, but the AW120 sounds like it would work well from what I've looked up.

 

[jec6613]

Any time, feel free to ask away!

One more suggestion: whatever camera you get, get it at least three months before any vacation you want to take it on. This does two things: first, any manufacturing defects tend to show up early in a camera's life, and second, the last thing you want to be doing on vacation is figuring out your camera!

That goes for any piece of photo gear, get it months beforehand. For my trip to Africa in October (and follow-up trip to WDW), I'm making all of my purchases by the end of July.